LMR_April_2019

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Don’t leave procurement to chance! Let LPS manage every aspect of your local government purchasing needs, large or small. SEALED BIDS REVERSE AUCTIONS SURPLUS PROPERTY SALES PUBLIC PROJECT FINANCING EXPERT CONSULTATION LAMATS.NET/LPS | 225.344.5001 The Louisiana Municipal Review, the official publication of the Louisiana Municipal Association, serves as a medium for the exchange of ideas and information for municipal officials in Louisiana. With a circulation of over 3,200, this publicationis read by employees of Louisiana municipal governments, sheriffs, parish presidents, state government officials, and members of the state legislature and Congressional delegation, among others. Subscription rate: $24 per year; Single copy: $2. Louisiana residents, add 9% sales tax. Rates for display, professional-listing, and classified advertising available upon request at editor@lma.org. Statements or expressions of opinions appearing herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Louisiana Municipal Association. Publication of any advertisement shall not be considered an endorsement of the product or service involved. No material from this publication may be reprinted without the express permission of the editor. Editorial offices: Louisiana Municipal Association, 700 North 10th Street, Suite 400, Post Office Box 4327, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 - 4327, editor@lma.org, www.lma.org, (225) 344-5001, (800) 234-8274, FAX (225) 344-3057. LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW MUNICIPAL REVIEW STAFF (USPS 832-560) (ISSN 0164-3622) Executive Director: John Gallagher jgallagher@lma.org 3 rd class postage paid at Baton Rouge, Managing Editor: Karen Day White kwhite@lma.org Louisiana. Editor: Anita Tillman atillman@lma.org Postmaster – Send address changes to: Production Coordinator: Baton Rouge Press, Inc. LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW Post Office Box 4327 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4327 2018-19 LMA EXECUTIVE BOARD (non-affiliate, non-advisory) President – Harry Lewis – Mayor, Rayville District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson First Vice President – Jimmy Williams – Mayor, Sibley Second Vice President– Michael Chauffe – Mayor, Grosse Tete Immediate Past President – Lawrence Henagan, DeQuincy District A Vice President – Peggy Adkins, Mayor, Sarepta District C Vice President – , Mayor, District D Vice President – Rick Allen, Mayor, Leesville District E Vice President – Nathan Martin, Councilman, Pineville District F Vice President – , Mayor, District G Vice President – Kenneth Stinson, Mayor, Vinton District H Vice President – David Toups, Mayor, Addis District I Vice President – Donald Villere, Mayor, Mandeville LMA Past President – Glenn Brasseaux, Mayor, Carencro LMA Past President – David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth LMA Past President – David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle LMA Past President – Clarence Fields, Mayor, Pineville LMA Past President – Norman Heine, Councilman, Baker Vice President at Large – Derrick Johnson, Mayor, Cheneyville Vice President at Large – Jennifer Vidrine, Mayor, Ville Platte Vice President (< 1K) – Johnnie L. Natt, Mayor, Mangham Vice President (1K – 2.5K) – William D'Aquilla, Mayor, St. Francisville Vice President (2.5K – 5K) – Robert Hardey, Mayor, Westlake Page 2 LMR | April 2019
Inside the LMA Director’s Viewpoint SESSION IS NEXT ON THE AGENDA BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Spring is here and our Legislative Committee, chaired by Pineville mayor and former LMA President Clarence Fields, is already in high gear as we look ahead to the 2019 Regular Legislative Session. The legislative team has been busy evaluating bills and solidifying strategies and will work diligently with local government partners on matters of import to our members. The LMA is always ready to fight to protect local authority from preemption and to insure sustained recognition of municipal interests, and during this session we will remain focused on those efforts. We need your help to oppose a proposed constitutional amendment that would take a major step toward removal of the authority of local governments to collect their own sales and use taxes. If the amendment passes, the measure would allow the legislature to mandate centralized collection of all local sales and use taxes, either by the State of Louisiana or some other unspecified entity. We believe that the solution to Louisiana’s complicated tax system is not divesting locals of this constitutionallyprotected right. Indeed, there are already several boards, commissions, and initiatives whose members are already hard at work to accomplish this herculean task, including the Louisiana Sales Tax Streamlining and Modernization Commission, the Louisiana Uniform Local Sales Tax Board, and the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers. We also ask that you pass a resolution at your next board meeting opposing any legislation which will take away the authority of local governments to collect their own sales taxes. As sample resolution was sent to LMA members last week. Please make sure that you read the weekly legislative reports that will be forwarded to our members every Friday and respond to our legislative calls to action that arise during this fiscal session. Last month a delegation of LMA leaders traveled to Washington, D.C. for the National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference, March 10 – 13. We received a briefing from the NLC staff on federal legislative priorities for the remainder of this year. As evidenced by the theme, “Rebuild with Us,” the focus this year was on municipalities partnering with state and federal authorities to repair and improve critical infrastructure. LMA officers met with Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy as well as Representatives Garret Graves and Mike Johnson. The team also had productive meetings with Representative Ralph Abraham’s legislative director and Minority Whip Representative Steve Scalise’s legislative director. We are always grateful for the time and attention that our congressional delegation gives to the concerns of the LMA members. I want to thank the almost 200 attendees of the inaugural Mayors Court training sessions in Natchitoches and Baton Rouge. A special appreciation goes out to the Louisiana Judicial College and Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott Crichton for working with the LMA staff to put this training together and to the speakers for their participation, including Gretna Mayor Belinda Constant and Jerry Guillot, our longtime Mayors Court expert. We hope to announce additional training sessions later this year. Finally, the 42nd Annual LMA Municipal Day will be in Baton Rouge on May 8. This is an incredibly impactful event that gives our members the opportunity to educate legislators on municipal government issues and to dispel misconceptions about local government. The event culminates in a crawfish boil that encourages networking with legislators and statewide officials in a relaxed setting. We encourage you to attend so that we can have a strong contingent at the state capitol. Registration information can be found in this issue of the Louisiana Municipal Review or at www.lma.org. Before digging, call 811 at least two full work days in advance to protect your community’s underground systems and enhance public safety. That’s all it takes to notify LA One Call members, so they can mark nearby utility lines and pipelines to prevent injury and costly accidents. IT’S THE LAW. IT’S FREE. Call or click www.LAOneCall.com LMR | April 2019 Page 3
Page 1: Louisiana Municipal Review PUBLISHE
Page 5 and 6: Spring has sprung and fortunately,
Page 7 and 8: Inside the LMA Technical Assistance
Page 9 and 10: Inside the LMA LMA’s Community Ac
Page 11 and 12: Clerks Corner LMCA 2019 SPRING CONF
Page 13 and 14: A Word from Our Affiliates CONTINUE
Page 15 and 16: Partner Insight CDBG Public Facilit
Page 17 and 18: Partner Insight Treasury Notes Savi
Page 19 and 20: Partner Insight Accessing Funds for
Page 21 and 22: Feature Louisiana Municipal Black C
Page 23 and 24: Feature Annexation by Petition: Req

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